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Approving application for a Minnesota State Arts and Cultural Legacy Grant, through the Minnesota Historical Society Historical and Cultural Heritage program, of up to $200,000, for rehabilitation of the historic Mendota Road bridge located in Lilydale Regional Park, and if funds are granted, accepting the funds and entering into grant agreements, which may include an indemnification clause, as are necessary to implement and complete the project.
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WHEREAS, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, (NHPA) established a strong federal policy favoring the preservation of properties and sites which have been significant in American history for the public's benefit; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Historic Site Act established a strong state policy favoring for the public’s benefit, the preservation of properties possessing historical, architectural, archaeological, and aesthetic values which represent and reflect elements of the state’s cultural, social, economic, religious, political, architectural, and aesthetic heritage through the creation of a State Register of Historic Places; and
WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota, at Minn. Stat. 471.193, Subd. 1, has further declared that it is the policy of the state to enable local units of government to engage in a comprehensive program of historic preservation and to promote the use and conservation of historical, architectural, archeological, engineering, and cultural heritage sites in the State for the education, inspiration, pleasure, and enrichment of the citizens of the State through the creation of local heritage preservation commissions; and
WHEREAS, the City, at Leg. Code 73.01, has declared that it is the policy of the City that preservation, protection, perpetuation, and use of areas, places, buildings, structures, and other objects having a special historical, community, or esthetic interest or value, is a public necessity and is in the interest of the health, prosperity, safety and welfare of the people, including safe-guarding the heritage of the City by preserving sites and structures which reflect elements of the City's cultural, social, economic, political, or architectural history; and
WHEREAS, the Clean Water, Land and Legacy amendment to Minnesota's Constitution, dedicates 3/8ths of 1% of the State sales tax to clean water, habitat, arts, and parks and trails of state or regional significance; and
WHEREAS, funding from the arts and cultural heritage fund may be spent only for arts, arts education, arts access, and to preserve Minnesota's history and cultural heritage; and
WHEREAS, rehabilitation and restoration of the Mendota Heights bridge is required to protect the historic structure; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation has determined that the historic Mendota Bridge rehabilitation project meets the established criteria for these funds; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Saint Paul, that support is hereby granted for the Department of Parks and Recreation to submit an application to the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant program, and if funds are granted, accept the funds and enter into grant agreements, that may include an indemnification clause, as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the City of Saint Paul in compliance with all applicable laws, and staff is authorized to apply for reimbursement from the grant funds approved for the project herein.